Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025

Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E11

CAFF– the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council.

Höfundar / Authors: Snorri Sigurðsson, Magnus Göransson

Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: CAFF / Náttúrufræðistofnun

Kynnir / Presenter: Snorri Sigurðsson

Iceland is a member of the Arctic Council and thus participates in its various working groups one of which is CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna) the main group focusing on biodiversity. Since May 2025 Iceland has held the Chairship of the CAFF Management Board and thus will lead CAFF‘s work for a two year period. CAFF's mandate is to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and to communicate its findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources. It does so through various monitoring, assessment and expert group activities. CAFF's work is based upon cooperation between all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Observers, and international conventions and other organizations, and is guided by the CAFF's Actions for Arctic Biodiversity strategic plan and biennial Work Plans. During Iceland’s Chairship period focus will be on implementing the current CAFF Work Plan 2025-2027 with special emphasis on finalizing the Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2025-2035. Other topics of importance include continued support for the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Project (CBMP), marine protected areas, alien invasive species, migratory birds, wetland conservation and alignment with global biodiversity reporting processes including CBD and IPBES.